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Thomas Perry (1) (1947–)

Auteur van The Tombs

Voor andere auteurs genaamd Thomas Perry, zie de verduidelijkingspagina.

38+ Werken 11,259 Leden 401 Besprekingen Favoriet van 5 leden

Over de Auteur

Thomas Perry was born in Tonawanda, New York, in 1947. He graduated from Cornell University in 1969 and earned a Ph. D. in English Literature from the University of Rochester in 1974. Perry's novels, successful both critically and with the public, are suspenseful as well as comic. Butcher's Boy toon meer received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best First Novel in 1983, and another one of his novels has been adapted in the movie, The Guide (1999). His other novels include: Death Benefits, Nightlife, Fidelity, and Strip. (Bowker Author Biography) Won an Edgar for The Butcher's Boy, and Metzger's Dog was a New Yor Times Notable book of the Year. Vanishing Act was chosen as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association. Perry's other works include: Death Benefits, The Face Changers, Shadow Woman, Dance for the Dead, and Blood Money. He lives in Southern California with his wife and two daughters. (Publisher Provided) toon minder

Reeksen

Werken van Thomas Perry

The Tombs (2012) 931 exemplaren
The Mayan Secrets (2013) 795 exemplaren
Vanishing Act (1995) 789 exemplaren
The Butcher's Boy (1982) 638 exemplaren
Dance for the Dead (1996) 594 exemplaren
Shadow Woman (1997) 465 exemplaren
The Face-Changers (1998) 459 exemplaren
Metzger's Dog (1983) 435 exemplaren
Runner (2009) 408 exemplaren
Silence (2007) 401 exemplaren
Nightlife (2006) — Auteur — 391 exemplaren
Sleeping Dogs (1992) 385 exemplaren
Blood Money (1999) 379 exemplaren
The Old Man (2017) 366 exemplaren
Death Benefits (1999) 338 exemplaren
Fidelity (2008) 321 exemplaren
Pursuit (2001) 297 exemplaren
The Informant (2011) 290 exemplaren
Strip (2010) 283 exemplaren
Poison Flower (2012) 274 exemplaren
Dead Aim (2002) 233 exemplaren
The Burglar (2019) 222 exemplaren
Forty Thieves (2015) 216 exemplaren
The Boyfriend (2013) 210 exemplaren
The Bomb Maker (2018) 203 exemplaren
A String of Beads (2015) 203 exemplaren
A Small Town (2019) 154 exemplaren
The Left-Handed Twin (2021) 122 exemplaren
Eddie's Boy (2020) 113 exemplaren
Big Fish (1985) 100 exemplaren
Island (1988) 99 exemplaren
Murder Book (2023) 98 exemplaren
The Book of the Lion (2014) 33 exemplaren
The Arrangement 1 exemplaar

Gerelateerde werken

A Study in Sherlock: Stories Inspired by the Holmes Canon (2011) — Medewerker — 535 exemplaren
The Big Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories (2015) — Medewerker — 137 exemplaren
Murderers' Row (2001) — Medewerker — 37 exemplaren
The Killing Spirit : An Anthology of Murder for Hire (1996) — Medewerker — 33 exemplaren
AZ Murder Goes Professional (2002) — Medewerker — 3 exemplaren

Tagged

Algemene kennis

Geboortedatum
1947
Geslacht
male
Nationaliteit
USA
Geboorteplaats
Tonawanda, New York, USA
Woonplaatsen
Los Angeles, California, USA
Opleiding
Cornell University
University of Rochester
Beroepen
producer
Relaties
Perry, Jo (wife)
Prijzen en onderscheidingen
Winner of Edgar Award

Leden

Besprekingen

The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Hitman*
Review of the Mariner Books Kindle eBook edition (June 4, 2009) of the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt hardcover original (May 12, 2008).

He had heard somebody say once that as long as a man’s hopes outnumbered his regrets, he was still alive. But by that measure, he had been dead for years.
...
There was a skill to being an outlaw. The only people who knew and respected it were the people who had it and the people who made a living chasing them down, but a man who did things right lasted a little longer.


I've read (but not reviewed) every single book by Thomas Perry since I became a fan with The Butcher's Boy (1982). Most of his books follow the formula of a hunter character vs. a hunted character. The detailing of the steps taken by each in the pursuit and the run is what makes for the suspense and tension in each story. The formula is switched up by varying which character is the hero or the villain. My favourites have been those with his most regular series character Jane Whitefield, who is a one-woman witness protection agency, hiding deserving people and giving them new lives, when the authorities are powerless or perhaps not to be trusted.

I was somewhat surprised then when Fidelity from 2008 came up as a Kindle Deal of the Day on February 12, 2024 and I had no particular memory of having read it. I figured it must not have been very memorable for some reason and perhaps would have even earned an Unsatisfactory Ending Alert™ back in the day. So a re-read seemed in order.

So, yes, this isn't quite top drawer Perry. It meanders quite a bit, although the theme of the title does get some interesting slants to it. Housewife Emily Kramer is shocked by learning that her private detective husband Phil Kramer has been murdered for no apparent reason. She then learns that he had emptied all of their bank accounts before his death. While searching for the motive behind the murder she discovers that he may not have been the faithful husband whom she had married. Then it becomes apparent that the killer also has her in his sights.

Hitman Jerry Hobart has taken on the job of the Kramers for an initially unidentified rich man. Hobart doesn't know the reason for the bounty, but begins to suspect that if he can discover it for himself it may mean a much bigger payday in the end. He is wearying of his life on the road and yearns to reconcile with the lost love of his youth. He hopes that enough of a financial stake will help him towards that goal.

The ending is satisfactory but it comes about in such a bizarre way that you still aren't quite content with the result. A three-star rating seems the best compromise here.

Footnote
* Yes, I stole the idea for my lede from Alan Sillitoe's The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner (1959).
… (meer)
 
Gemarkeerd
alanteder | 12 andere besprekingen | Feb 21, 2024 |
Fair thriller about Jane Whitefield, who guides fugitives from the law or criminals.
 
Gemarkeerd
derailer | 12 andere besprekingen | Jan 25, 2024 |
I love stories of aged spies that are trying to live through their pension without being molested by former employers. And then they start getting targeted just for being alive which spells doom for whomever is targeting them.

Won't go into details [because I dont want to spoil anything] but if you like A J Quinell works or adventures of Matt Helm this one is not to be missed.

Highly recommended.
 
Gemarkeerd
Zare | 28 andere besprekingen | Jan 23, 2024 |

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Statistieken

Werken
38
Ook door
6
Leden
11,259
Populariteit
#2,090
Waardering
3.8
Besprekingen
401
ISBNs
507
Talen
13
Favoriet
5

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